New 4K Restoration! Frankenstein director James Whale turned J.B. Priestley’s novel “Benighted” into a nerve-jangling tale that became the template for all spooky-house chillers to come.

After the success of Frankenstein (1931), and before the future successes of The Invisible Man (1933) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935), James Whale directed The Old Dark House. This once lost movie provides as much early DNA for the horror genre as those other Whalean masterworks. It’s hard to think of a title that sounds older and creakier than The Old Dark House, but the film remains stylish, funny, and surprisingly modern.

Stranded travelers stumble upon a strange old house, and find themselves at the mercy of a highly eccentric and potentially dangerous family. This atmospheric thriller features an unforgettable post-Frankenstein horror role for Boris Karloff, as the hulking, disfigured butler Morgan. Also starring in early-career roles are Melvin Douglas, Charles Laughton, Raymond Massey and Gloria Stuart of Titanic.